Review: DADDY'S DYIN'...WHO'S GOT THE WILL?

The first production at Terrific New Theatre in the post Carl Stewart era is Del Shores' DADDY'S DYIN'... WHO'S GOT THE WILL? I had decided to skip this production in light of what has been going on in my life, but time opened up suddenly and I decided to venture out. As usual, I was glad I did.

DADDY'S DYIN'... is a fast paced play with a touch of sentimentality, lots of crazy characters and a few laughs along the way. You always leave a Del Shores' show feeling better about the nuts in your own family.

The entire cast is very well matched with no weak link and no one that pulled my attention away from the rest. The set was pleasing and detailed, all the way to the small AC unit duct taped into the window.

Jack Heidt as Buford Turnover, is the father of this dysfunctional family and although his part is small, he does an admirable job of a man who is dying, while slowly losing his grip on reality. When his daughter Lurlene, played by Brooke Wood, shows him a picture of her children and he blankly stares past the photo, I teared up a little.

Sally Montgomery as Mama Wheelis, is the matriarch of the family and she is fighting a losing battle trying to keep this group on the straight and narrow. Putting in the best performance I have seen from her, she was a realistic balance of stern discipline and grandmotherly love.

Brooke Wood, Harper Wood, Laura Elton Towns and Douglas O'Neil, Jr. portray the adult children who have gone different directions in life, but gather together in their father's final days. They fight, insult each other and reminisce just like a real gang of siblings.

Towns is believable as the wild, rebellious daughter Evalita, who has had several husbands and comes into the house with a new "hippie" boyfriend Harmony Rhodes, played by Shawn Reese. Although seen as the weird outsider by the family, Harmony turns out to be the most normal, thoughtful character in the group.

The cast is rounded out by Emily Burnett as Marlene Turnover, sister in law to this group of fighting siblings. Abused by her husband and eventually finding herself during the show, you can't help but cheer for her when she finally makes a life changing decision.

Directed by Kathleen Crawford Jensen, the show is well staged, well-paced, and well designed. Although it is a new era at TNT, I still saw Stewart's influence in the evening, which was nice. I was glad I made the effort to get back out and see DADDY'S DYIN'...

DADDY'S DYIN'... WHO'S GOT THE WILL? plays September 8- October 1. For more information go to www.terrificnewtheatre.com or call 205-328-0868 for tickets.

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